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Reproductive system of the dog and cat Part 1 –

the female system
a
Victoria Aspinall BVSc MRCVS
a
Bridgwater College, Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4PZ. UK
Published online: 21 Nov 2014.

To cite this article: Victoria Aspinall BVSc MRCVS (2011) Reproductive system of the dog and cat Part 1 – the female
system, Veterinary Nursing Journal, 26:2, 43-45, DOI: 10.1111/j.2045-0648.2010.00013.x

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2045-0648.2010.00013.x

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 CLINICAL

Victoria Aspinall BVSc MRCVS
Victona qual1fied from Bnstol
Un1versity vet school and went
Downloaded by [University of Exeter] at 01:03 12 August 2015
Reproductive system
of the dog and cat
Part 1 -the female system
Victoria Aspinall. Bvsc MRcvs
Bridgwater College, Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4PZ. UK
ABSTRACT: The female reproductive system has evolved to produce ova from
the ovaries wh1ch are released and pass down the reproductive tract where they
may be fert1l1sed by sperm from the male an1mal. The parts of the tract prov1de
a receptacle 1n wh1ch the resultmg embryos and, later, foetuses can rece1ve
nutnt10n, develop and grow. and a channel along wh1ch the foetuses can pass
during partunt1on.
The process of reproduct1on depends on an 1nterrelationsh1p between the
hormones, oestrogen and progesterone and these are secreted by the ovaries.
The anatomy of the b1tch and queen are s1milar and any s1gn1ficant d1fferences
are h1ghllghted.

mto small an1mal practice. After

raising her four ch1ldren she went
1nto teachmg at Hartpury College.
where she started the veterinary
nursmg department. From there
she founded Abbeydale Vetlmk
Veterinary Training which IS a
VNAC 1n the west of England and
also runs a wide range of
vetermary-related courses.
mcludmg vet nurse train1ng.
Victona is now an associate
lecturer 1n vetennary nursing at
Bndgwater College, Somerset.
She has wntten and edited many
books for vet nurses, including
The Complete Textbook of
Vetennary Nursmg.
Introduction
The female dog (Canis familiaris) is
called a bitch and the female cat (fells
catus) is called a queen. The reproductive
tracts of both spectes are very ~imilar and
vary mainly in size. Both species are
litter-bearing or multiparous, so the tract
is designed to carry many foetuses in a
single pregnancy.
The ~hape of the uterus is bicornuate -
with two long horns and a small body
(Figure I) The fertilised ova implant at
equal distances along the horns allowing
the maximum amount of space for
development - it is rare for a foetus to
develop within the uterine body.
D Figure 1: Dorsal view of the reproductive
system of the bitch. [Reproduced with
permission from Aspinall, V. and Capello.
M.l2009] p128.]
Ovary and o'od•Jct on
thE' o1anan oursa --~
rlnlundot>utum:
Functions
The functions of the female reproductive
tract are to:
release ova to be fertilised by the
spermatozoa of the male
provide a receptacle for the
development of the foetuses
secrete the hormones oestrogen,
from the developing follicles and
progesterone, from the corpus luteum.
These, by differing mechanisms,
ensure the correct environment for
the production of ova, for the survival
of sperm and ova and for the
development of the fertilised ova into
viable foetuses.
In the non-pregnant female, most of the
tract lies within the abdominal cavity,
although the cervix, vagina and vestibule
lie in the pelvic cavity. During pregnancy
the weight of the foetuses pulls the cervix
over the pelvic brim into the abdomen.
Reproductive tract

Ovary
There is a pair of ovaries - one lying
on either side of the midline, caudal to
each kidney - in the dorsal abdominal
cavity. Each ovary is held close to the
kidney by the ovarian ligament, which
contains smooth muscle fibres allowing
it to stretch in response to the weight of
the pregnant uterus.
To cite this article use either
DOl: 10.1111/j.2045-0648.2010.00013.x or Each ovary is suspended from the
Veterinary Nursing Journal Vol 26 pp43-45
abdominal wall by the mesovarium ~

© 2011 Btackwell PubllsiHng Ltd Vetermal)' Nursmg Journal• VOL 26 • Februaly 2D11 • Page 43
 CLINICAL
which is part of the visceral peritoneum.
Part of the mesovarium forms a pocket-
like ovarian bursa in which there is a
small opening - this is the only means of
entry into the peritoneal cavity.
The ovarian tissue consists of a network
of connective tissue and blood capillaries,
derived from the ovarian artery. Within
this are germ cells that eventually develop
into follicles, each containing an ovum.
The function of the ovary is to produce
ova and to secrete oestrogen and
progesterone.
Uterine tube
This is also called the oviduct (or the
Fallopian tube) and its function is to
conduct the ova from the ovary to the
uterine horn. Each tube is a narrow
Downloaded by [University of Exeter] at 01:03 12 August 2015
structure lying close to - and running
over - the ovary and leading into the
uterine horn.
The open end, close to the ovary, is a
funnel-shaped infundibulum which is
fringed with finger-like fimbriae. The
infundibulum is able to move over the
surface of the ovary to capture an ovum
as it ovulates from its follicle. The tube is
suspended by the mesosalpinx which is
continuous with the mesovarium.
Internally the tube is lined with ciliated
columnar epithelium. The hair-like cilia
assist in the movement of the ova down
the tube and the lining membrane
secretes nutrients which aid the survival
of the ova as they pass down and of the
''The process of reproduction depends on an interrelationship between the hormones,
oestrogen and progesterone and these are secreted by the ovaries''
Page 44 • VOL 16 • February 1011 • Vetennary Nursmg Journal
spermatozoa as they pass upwards.
Fertilisation occurs in the uterine tube.
Uterus
The uterus is a central Y-shaped structure
consisting of two long uterine horns and
a small uterine body (Figure l). Its
function is to provide a receptacle and the
correct environment for the development
of the fertilised embryos into foetuses,
and also to provide the means for the
development of a placenta which supplies
nutrients to the developing conceptus.
The uterus is held in position within the
abdominal cavity by the broad ligament
or the mesometrium, which is continuous
with the mesovarium and mesosalpinx.
Running within the mesometrium are the
uterine and ovarian arteries and veins
that supply the tract with blood - the
uterine artery runs close to the cervix
and is ligated during a bitch spay.
The wall of the uterus consists of three
layers:
l. endometrium - columnar epithelium,
glandular tissue and blood capillaries.
This layer enlarges during pregnancy
to enable implantation of the placenta.
2. myometrium - smooth muscle fibres
which contract strongly during
parturition to expel the foetuses.
3. mesometrium - part of the visceral
peritoneum.
Cervix
The cervix connects the uterine body
with the vagina and is a thick-walled
muscular sphincter through which runs
the narrow cervical canal. The canal is
usually closed but it relaxes to allow the
passage of sperm or foetuses. During
pregnancy, the canal is blocked by a
mucoid plug which protects the
conceptuses from infection.
Vagina
This structure is a dilatable tube which
extends from the cervix to the external
urethral orifice (Figure l). It lies within
the pelvic cavity and is surrounded by
connective tissue. Internally it consists of
longitudinal folds which dilate to allow
the foetuses out during parturition.
The vagina is lined with stratified
squamous epithelium, which changes in
response to the hormones of the oestrous
cycle. In the bitch, daily vaginal smears
may be examined to monitor the progress
of the cycle prior to mating - this is
known as exfoliative vaginal cytology.
During pro-oestrus, the blood-stained
discharge comes from the vaginal lining,
not from the uterus, as occurs in man.
Vestibule
The vestibule is a continuation of the
vagina (Figure 1) running from the
external urethral orifice - the point at
which the urethra leading from the
bladder joins the tract - to the outside at
the vulva. Its function is to convey
foetuses out of the body and sperm into
the vagina from the male penis and also
to convey urine from the bladder and
urethra out of the body. Its structure is
similar to that of the vagina, but the walls
are not ridged by longitudinal folds.
Vulva
The vulva marks the external opening
of the tract and lies in the perineum,
ventral to the anus, below the tail. It
consists of two verticallabiae joined
© 1011 Blackwell Pubilshmg Ltd
- CLINICAL
dorsally and ventrally with the vulval
cleft between them. Just inside the ventral
part of the cleft is the clitoris made of
cavernous erectile tissue. This is the
equivalent of the male penis.
Normally the labiae are held tightly
together to prevent the entry of infection,
but in the bitch, during pro-oestrus
and oestrus, the vulva enlarges and is
slightly relaxed. This does not happen
in the queen.
Mammary glands
The dog and the cat are members of
the class Mammalia and the defining
characteristic of this group is the
presence of mammary glands, which
secrete milk on which the young are fed.
Mammary glands are theoretically part
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of the integument - as opposed to the
reproductive tract itself - as they are
modified skin glands.
In the bitch and the queen, they lie
externally on the ventral abdominal and
thoracic body walls, just below the skin
on either side of the midline. The bitch
has five pairs, while the queen has four
pairs. Mammary glands are present in
both sexes.
Each mammary gland consists of
glandular tissue embedded in connective
tissue and lined by a secretory epithelium
(Figure 2). The milk, produced during a
process known as lactation, drains
C Figure 2: Section through a mammary gland. [Reproduced with perm1ss1on from
Aspinall. V. and Capello. M.l2009] p131.]
© 2011 Blackwell Publrshmg ltd
through a network of sinuses that
eventually narrow to form teat canals. These multiple choice questions
Each teat canal leads to a teat orifice on are based on the above text.
the surface of the teat - there are many Answers appear on page 55.
orifices on one teat so the milk sprays out
1. The ovary is responsible for secreting which
into the neonate's mouth.
two hormones?
a.oestrogen and prolactin
Lactation is influenced by three b.progesterone and oxytocin
reproductive hormones: c. oestrogen and progesterone
• progesterone - secreted by the d.prolactin and oxytocin
corpus luteum within the ovary and
2. In which structure would you find the ovarian
causes the mammary glands to enlarge bursa?
during the oestrous cycle and during a. ovarian ligament
pregnancy. b. mesometrium
• prolactin - secreted by the anterior c. mesosalpinx
d.mesovarium
pituitary glands and causes the glands
to secrete milk during the last third 3. Which type of epithelium lines the uterine tube?
of pregnancy, but at this stage it is a.pseudo·stratified
not released. b.ciliated columnar
• oxytocin - secreted by the posterior c. transitional
d.stratified squamous
pituitary gland during the few hours
around parturition. As the neonate 4. The arterial supply to the cervix is by means
begins to suckle the sensation starts of which artery?
a reflex arc which releases oxytocin a.uterine
which in turn causes contraction of b. cervical
c. Fallopian
the smooth muscle around the
d. testicular
mammary glands and the milk is
released. II 5. The passage of each ovum from its release from
the folUcle in the ovary is:
Bibliography a. uterine tube, uterus, uterine horn
b.uterus, uterine horn, cervix
ASPINALL. V and CAPELLO, M. l2009llntroduction
c. uterus, cervix, uterine tube
to Veterinary Anatomy and Physrology 2nd ed. d.uterine tube, uterine horn, uterus
Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford.
OYCE. K. M . SACK. W 0. and WENSING, C. J. G. 6. The myometrium of the uterus is made of:
120021 Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy 3rd ed.
a.smooth muscle
b.stratified epithelium
Saunders, Philadelphia.
c. striated muscle
EVANS, H. E. 119931 Miller"s Anatomy of the Dog d. glandular tissue and blood capillaries
3rd ed. Saunders. Philadelphia.
7. The cranial boundary of the vestibule is marked
by the:
a. vulvallabiae
b. cervical canal
c. clitoris
d.external urethral orifice
B. How many pairs of mammary glands are there
in the queen?
a.2
Mammary gland
b.l
c.4
d.5
·Secretory tissue 9. Which hormone is responsible for the formation
of milk in the mammary glands?
a.oxytocin
·Gland sinus
b.progesterone
c. prolactin
d.oestrogen
·Teat sinus
10. The term used to describe Utter-bearing
species is:
·Teat a.polyparous
b. multiparous
c. uniparous
-Teat canal d.nulliparous
-1eat onficres
Vete11nary Nursmg Journal • VOL 26 • february 2011 • Page 45
 CLINICAL
~ Figure 2: Breedmg from a mare 1s un1quely sat1sfy1ng. espec1ally when there 1s a
successful outcome
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Timing of insemination for AI becomes and veterinary involvement must all be

more crucial depending on the type of
semen used. Ovulation should occur
within 48 hours using fresh semen, 24
hours using chilled material and within
12 hours using frozen semen. As the
timing of between insemination and
ovulation decreases, the number of
examinations performed by the vet
increase, in an effort to forecast
ovulation more accurately.
considered. It is a process that is fraught
with potential disappointments at every
stage, but is also uniquely satisfying,
especially when there is a successful
outcome (Figure 2). Ci!l
: The mare is
regarded as a'long-

day, seasonally
Pregnancy diagnosis
polyoestrous breeder'.
Pregnancy diagnosis can be perli.Jrmed
by ultrasound examination in as little That means that
as 14 days after ovulation. At this stage,
during the spring,
the foetus is too small to visualise, but
the pregnancy sac is approximately summer and early
12 to 18mm in size. The foetus and its
heart beat can be visualised at approx autumn months,
22 to 25 days.
normal non-pregnant
From then, the foetus continues to grow mares show repeated
to about IOmm at day 32. Foetal sexing is
possible at day 62 to 67, and again at oestrous cycles
around 120 days, but requires a good
lasting approximately
quality ultrasound scanner and a lot of
practice to become accurate. 21 days

Conclusion

There are several decisions and

considerations to be made when
attempting to breed from a mare.
The health of the mare, type of cover -
natural versus controlled versus AI -

© 2011 Blackwell Publishing ltd Vetennary Nutsmg Joumal • VOL 26 • february 2011 • Page 55